A bad taste in the mouth

[Mr Rik]

Hi Folks

Being new to cardistry and all things related I have bought a range of decks recently to experiment with.

I have noticed in this time that some decks leave me with a horrible taste in my mouth - and no.....  I am not eating the cards or indeed licking my fingers.

The chemicals used by these cards must have some toxicity to me or something, as the taste in my mouth is foul and makes me want to
a) brush my teeth
b) stop playing with the cards.

Specific packs I have noticed affecting me this way are Aristocrat Banknotes 727 (Linen Finish), and the Bee 1902 Club Special (Cambric). (Cambric is fine white linen - so might be some connection between these decks).

I wonder if anyone else out there has experienced something similar?

Maybe all the cards are finished/coated with the same thing in which case I can only be imagining this phenomena , or maybe the linen/cambric effect is different, and I am just very sensitive to this?

I wonder if anyone any enlightening thoughts?

Thanks for reading

Mr Rik

[RSLancastr]

I have never experienced this.

Perhaps a deck with a Sorbet finish to cleanse your palate?

[BastianBJ]

Sorry to hear!

But I have never experienced anything like that at all... you could try to experiment with some other cards with different stock and/or finish, if you really think that is the problem 

[Michael]

If I'm not mistaken, Cambric finish is just another (misleading) way to say Standard finish (I'm not sure about Linen). There really are only two types of finishes that come out of USPCC. So if it's the finish that is giving you a bad taste in your mouth it should be many many other decks as well.

Either that or your body is telling you that you really don't like those designs

[jmrock]

I have never experienced this.

Perhaps a deck with a Sorbet finish to cleanse your palate?

Hysterical!  I was going to suggest some salt and pepper, but the sorbet is just so much more refined...

[Xntrix]

There really are only two types of finishes that come out of USPCC

A misconception. USPCC will state straight out that there are only two finishes. They'll also state straight out that (now) there are only two stocks (not called 'Bee, Bicycle, Aristocrat, Casino' or anything of the like, but instead called 3xy & 9xy) - both are most likely true... for off-the-street customers and the 'standard' printed decks they run in the millions. It's not the case with their bread and butter custom customers (like us, for example). We can source an almost infinite (ok, not quite - but a massive number) of combinations of stock & finish - and there are other customers out there who can as well. Not sure if CARC would have access to whatever they wanted, but the Bucks most likely would.

Rik - your problem is that you're using the wrong cards, a common ailment - but luckily I'm here to help. Head on over to http://ellusionist.com/playing-cards for the cure. If you feel like brushing your teeth after handling these... it's because of the drool.

You're welcome.

-Jake

[Michael]

It's not the case with their bread and butter custom customers (like us, for example). We can source an almost infinite (ok, not quite - but a massive number) of combinations of stock & finish - and there are other customers out there who can as well.

Hmmm interesting but moot. Maybe you didn't include what you wanted to say but all you stated was that there are an infinite number of combinations. Not stocks or finishes. Yes, you don't get as many as "infinite" amount of combinations but a handful of stocks and two finishes would get you many combinations. Experimenting with what you have to create "new finishes" that are just combinations of old ones I guess can count as well.... If true originality doesn't matter.

[xela]

Not sure about a bad taste in the mouth, but I definitely can taste the initial smell of a new pack of cards, and the funny thing is that I remember trying a brand of potato chips at school here and I couldn't get through them because they tasted like a new pack of Erlanger cards.

I'm pretty certain that the finish on a deck of cards can come off under certain conditions... maybe that's what you're tasting?

[Don Boyer]

In my experience, while both finishes have some odor, standard (which was used on the decks you mentioned) is relatively mild when compared to the sharper, chemical smell that comes from a Magic Finish/Performance Coating deck.  My wife actually LIKES the smell of Magic Finish.  To me, it's just that "new card smell" but a touch stronger and longer-lasting.  Cambric, Linen, Air Cushion, Linoid, etc. - same finish.  Mostly just marketing names, though at one time they were distinctly different chemicals.  (Though I will say there are a few decks out there with Magic Finish that are not labeled as such, instead using one of the more traditional names.)

If you really thought you were having a reaction of some kind, try getting another deck of the same type you're reacting to and see if the reaction is the same.

If you do discover there are some cards you're reacting to allergically, USPC does have a third finish, much less common, made of organic, recyclable materials, mostly starch.  The decks using it also have vegetable-based inks and 100% recycled paper (post-consumer, I believe.)  Two examples off the top of my head would be Bicycle Eco Edition and Bicycle Archangels - I'm sure there's a few more.  The starch is probably corn-based (it's cheaper than most others) so even a gluten allergy shouldn't be affected by them.

Xntrix - one of these days you should write up a post or two about your card knowledge in the "Fact or Fiction" post at the top of the Plethora!  It would be good to hear about the processes in making cards from someone on the inside.

[Xntrix]

Maybe you didn't include what you wanted to say but all you stated was that there are an infinite number of combinations. Not stocks or finishes. Yes, you don't get as many as "infinite" amount of combinations but a handful of stocks and two finishes would get you many combinations.

Sorry - should have made myself clearer. There are multiple stocks and multiple finishes available. Linen, Ivory (believe it or not - it is still 'finished' - just not 'calendared') Magic (or as we called it when we created it 'Performance Finish' - USPC decided to take it and call it 'Magic' finish to market it to other customers) - there's three that pretty much everyone knows about, without delving into the myriad of different chemical make-ups or calendaring sizes.

The only deck that ever left a bad taste in my mouth were Massas. Pretty much the Weirdest smelling deck ever produced.

Cambric, Linen, Air Cushion, Linoid, etc. - same finish.  Mostly just marketing names, though at one time they were distinctly different chemicals.  (Though I will say there are a few decks out there with Magic Finish that are not labeled as such, instead using one of the more traditional names.)

Absolutely correct with that last sentence.Two words; USPCC Legal.

 If a custom deck has the word 'Bicycle' on the box (Shadow Masters, Robocycle, Dragons Back etc) then it MUST state 'Air Cushion Finish' on the side of the box, no matter what finish is used. The only exception to this were the few decks that slipped through in the couple of months between us creating Magic finish, and USPCC's Legal team doing what they do best; making non-sensical but legal sounding policies that tie the hands of the designers trying to work with them. This policy is tied to the 'You can't alter the Riderback design' policy.

Bitter much? Sometimes.

-Jake

[Don Boyer]

Jake, you should PM me sometime - I'd love to pick your brain about a few things in the biz!

[John B.]

I would say maybe something was coming off the deck on your hand, or it could be the smell. Hope you get it worked out. And I am with jake, try their cards you should have no problems. There decks are the best hands down.